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Sunday, August 16, 2026
The independent student publication of The University at Buffalo, since 1950

Opinions

The Spectrum
OPINION

"In place of cancelation, communication from UB should be no-brainer"

Feb. 3, 2015

It?s a problem The Spectrum has discussed time and time again ? an issue which students bemoan and commuters fear: UB?s refusal to accommodate its students during inclement weather, or even recognize the challenges being faced by the community. During November?s snowstorm, UB drew enough ire from the public and the media that the administration caved in, canceling classes after refusing to do so during the initial days of the storm. Monday?s snow event certainly wasn?t as dramatic as November?s blizzard.

The Spectrum
OPINION

Capen renovations are an exercise in patience

Feb. 1, 2015

?Delayed gratification? will have to serve as the motto for students using North Campus libraries this year, as ?Club Capen? shuts down in order to undergo a dramatic remodel. Longer lines and louder study spaces in Lockwood and Silverman libraries may cause some headaches, but the carefully planned and much-needed improvements to the third floor of the Silverman Library will be worth it ? eventually. As part of UB?s Heart of the Campus project, a UB 2020 initiative involving renovations on all three campuses, the Silverman Library is getting a facelift. Up until its closing in December, Club Capen served as a popular 24-hour study space.

The Spectrum
OPINION

"'Big time,' big money, big problems"

Jan. 29, 2015

With barely recognizable opponents like Wheeling Jesuit and Montana State, it?s no surprise students aren?t turning out in droves to watch UB?s basketball team compete ? even though the Bulls have been winning. Because the excitement factor doesn?t seem sufficient, UB Athletics is upping its own game and offering financial incentives to students, but it won?t work. UB is raffling off not only GoPros and Beats headphones, but also ?tuition for the fall 2015 semester? in its latest attempt to lure students to athletic events ? particularly those broadcast by ESPN. It sounds a little like bribery, but even more so, this promotion reeks of desperation. Athletic director Danny White appears determined ? even desperate ? to revamp UB Athletics? image, to make the program a true ?big time? competitor. And to achieve that, UB needs to keep up with fellow Division-I schools like Ohio State and Duke, whose games are regularly broadcast on ESPN and feature shots of stands packed with screaming fans having the time of their lives. Although UB?s basketball team is doing well this season, boasting a 13-6 record, students just aren?t flocking to the games. That?s a problem, and Athletics is right to address it, but there are simpler ? and cheaper ? solutions than a master plan involving free tuition and expensive tech devices.

Spectrum File Photo
OPINION

Accepting senioritis

By SHARON KAHN | Jan. 29, 2015

Spectrum File Photo I think it just goes to show that I?ve now spent the last 10 hours sitting on my couch aimlessly chatting with my roommates, occasionally snacking on something in arm?s reach knowing I had work to do.

The Spectrum
OPINION

"Buffalo business is booming, but schools are failing "

By Editorial Board | Jan. 27, 2015

At last, Buffalo?s downtown is thriving. Last year?s surge of development downtown brought Canalside to life and now, construction continues to transform Buffalo?s waterfront. From the $172 million HarborCenter, with its hockey rinks and two-story television screens, to the 120-acre medical campus and a 1-million-square-foot solar panel factory, SolarCity, it?s clear that the influence of the Buffalo Billion initiative, as well as moguls like Terry Pegula, is both welcome and unwavering. There?s no denying the many and massive benefits to this sort of development ? new businesses and new jobs are precisely what Buffalo needs to continue on its path of economic recovery. But with downtown development getting the spotlight and garnering praise, it?s all too easy to forget about the problems still plaguing Buffalo. There?s more to this area than the waterfront, and there?s more to the population than millennials flocking to the city, eager to snap up jobs. Ice rinks and sports bars are a lot more fun to discuss than affordable housing and failing schools, but education and poverty are still issues that plague this region, and it?s critical that they don?t get overshadowed. Because even as Buffalo?s RiverWorks Complex revitalizes the abandoned industrial complexes on the harbor, equally dilapidated neighborhoods all over Buffalo go ignored. It?s not a matter of money ? projects like RiverWorks are privately funded ? but rather an issue of attention and priorities. Trendy loft apartments and remodeled spaces are all the rage in Buffalo.

Illustration by Harumo Sato
OPINION

Corruption charges a distraction and a disappointment

By Editorial Board | Jan. 27, 2015

Illustration by Harumo Sato Even as the threat of prison looms over Sheldon Silver, the speaker of the New York State Assembly refuses to step down. It?s fair to point out Silver is innocent until proven guilty, but that argument doesn?t justify the politician clinging to political power even as his claims of innocence slowly slip from his tenuous grasp. After the FBI arrested Silver last Thursday, he waited until Sunday to even temporarily step back (he refused to fully ?step down?). He maintained his position even as he went to court to be charged with corruption, including counts of conspiracy and bribery for three days. Silver faces up to 100 years in prison for his alleged crimes. The criminal complaint in his case details that the speaker abused his power and collected approximately $4 million in political payoffs over the last decade. Silver claimed the money as income from his employment as a lawyer outside of his government position.

OPINION

A new shift

By AMANDA LOW | Dec. 5, 2014

When I was younger, I wanted to be a scientist, a reporter and a basketball player. And even though I am good at free throws, I knew I would always end up choosing one path. But I never thought one childhood desire would lead me to one of the best decisions I made at UB. Before The Spectrum, I was unmotivated and stagnant.

The Spectrum
OPINION

"Protect and serve ' but first, hit 'record'"

Dec. 4, 2014

It?s an ugly truth, but true nonetheless: More needs to be done to protect members of society ? innocent and guilty alike ? from those tasked with protecting us. Though the majority of police officers do their duty in an upstanding manner and deserve nothing but praise for their actions on the job, the recent deaths of individuals like Michael Brown and Eric Garner make it clear that sometimes police officers not only combat violence, but generate it as well. And as the tragic storyline still playing out in Ferguson so painfully demonstrates, when police officers use force, it?s not always clear whether their actions were justified. The jury tasked with determining whether or not officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed the unarmed Michael Brown, faced a mountain of conflicting evidence. When asked if Brown charged at Wilson or his car, five witnesses said no, six said yes, and others did not see.

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